How do you support young people in vulnerable situations in a way that truly connects with their lives, their dreams, and their street-level reality?
Within the Erasmus+ KA220 project We Are Streetwise, partners from Utrecht, Antwerp and Marseille worked together to find an answer to that question. In this publication, Roots brings together the desk research and the field research into one accessible document.
The study maps the lived realities of young people in vulnerable positions and reveals where current systems fall short. Traditional, punitive responses to (youth) crime are not effective. Young people primarily need opportunities, a strong network, trust and perspective – not just control. Starting from that understanding, a five-step model was developed that focuses on outreach, making talents and dreams visible, creating personalised pathways and ensuring long-term follow-up. The result is a concrete and practical framework for youth workers, street workers and other professionals who work with young people in street contexts.
This publication can be used as an inspiration to rethink youth trajectories, as a foundational document and policy texts related to prevention and youth work.
Curious about the full story and the five-step model?
Read the full report (PDF) below.